Fluid container and discharge control valve



Sept. 3, 1957 H PLUMMER 2,804,929

FLUID CONTAINER AND DISCHARGE CONTROL VALVE Filed Nov. '7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 ||fl|%|w- Q r 90 8-) I 1 g a fi. Wm

\ W/AZIVAW n INVEN TOR.

H. PL l/MMER AGE/VT Sept. 3, 1957 PLUMMER 2,804,929

FLUID CONTAINER AND DISCHARGE CONTROL VALVE Filed Nov. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AGENT FLUID CONTAINER AND DISCHARGE CONTROL VALVE Harold Plummet, La Jolla, Calif, assignor to Rohr Aircraft Corporation, Chula Vista, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,225

' 4 (Ziaims. (Cl. 169-9) This invention relates to a pressurized fluid reservoir and discharge control valve therefor and more particularly to a reservoir arranged to contain a liquid and a highly pressurized gas both of which are discharged therefrom through a fast acting remotely controlled valve as a fire extinguishing or fire prevention agent. 7

In nearly all types of large aircraft it is customary to provide each engine nacelle with a fire extinguishing system from which pressurized fluids are discharged to extinguish fires which might accidentally occur in and around the engine. These fire extinguishing systems are also used as a means for preventing a fire when damage to an airplane appears imminent due to a forced or crash landing. In a great many instances fire following accidental damage to an airplane or following an airplane crash has been the primary cause of injury to the passenge rs. These fires are generally caused by the highly combustible engine fuel escaping from broken fuel lines and coming in contact with the extremely hot surfaces of the engine causing the fuel to ignite. To prevent fires from occuring in these instances the fire extinguishing system is actuated prior to the crash discharging cool pressurized fluid against the hot surfaces of the engine to cool them sufllciently so that the fuel is not ignited by contact therewith. Since the time lapse between thetime that the danger of crashing is apparent and the time that the crash occurs is usually very short it is necessary that the fire extinguishing fluids reach these parts very quickly. To

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accomplish this the supply of pressurized fluid must be near the engine and be released through a fast acting valve which is remotely controlled. Also it is desirable that the fire prevention agent be at least partlyliquid to more eflectively cool the hot surfaces to which it is directed; 7 i

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a pressurized fluid reservoir which is arranged to contain both a liquid and pressurized gas and means for quickly discharging the liquid.

A further object is to provide a pressurized fluid reservoir and discharge control valve therefor which are of sturdy construction and. whichmay be placed in any desired position in a fire extinguishing or fire preventing ys ms.

Another object is to provide a pressurized fluid reservoir having a fast .acting discharge. control valve which may beactuated by a remote control.

S tillj another object is to provide a discharge control valve,for a pressurized fluid reservoir through which the pressurized fluid maybe discharged quickly through an unobstructed passage.

Another object is to provide a discharge control valve For-a better understanding of the invention, reference is made tot-the accompanying; drawing illustrating a pre;

ferred embodiment thereof in which;

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the reservoir and discharge control valve taken on line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawing the device comprises a rigid outer container preferably made of metal and j cylindrical in shape, having a closed end 11 and anopen end 12. Positioned within container 10 is a flexible container 13 preferably made of thin rubber or other flexible and liquid impervious material, the wall 14 of which fits smoothly in sliding engagement with the inner surfaces. I of wall 15 of container 10. Flexible container 13 has a' I closed end 16 spaced away from closed end 11 of container 10 and an open end 17 coinciding with open end 12 of container 10. Wall 14 of flexible container 13 is provided withcircular metal reinforcing rings 18 vulcanized thereto as indicated at 18' and which hold the wall in contact with the inner surface of container 10, as shown. a valve 19 through which pressurized fluid is passed into the area 20 betweenend 11 of container 10 and end 16 of container 13 in a manner and for a purpose to be later described. Valve 19 is a conventional type ball check valve positioned to allow passage of fluid inwardly into area 20 only and has a threaded opening 21 in its outer.

end 22 in which a threaded plug 23 is screwed. Wall 15 of container 10 at the open end 12 thereof has an out- I press a portion of wall 14. of container. 13 against the inner surface of wall 15 and outwardly flared end 24.

Ring 27 is provided with a continuous inner wall 31 extending inwardly at an acute angle to outer wall 28 and which is provided with a central opening 32 passing .therethrough. Attached to wall 31 and extending across open-.

ing 32 is a thin supporting web 33 on which is mounted a sharp punch 34 extending into the interior offlexible container 13. Wall531 increases in thickness at .its end 35 surrounding opening 32, end 35 having a cylindrical periphery. 35 shaped to fit within the end 36 of a hollow 1 valve body 37. Valve 'body 37 is provided with anoutwardlyextending flange 38 at its end'36, the edge 39 of which is inclined at an angle corresponding to. angular section 30 of wall 28 of ring 27. An externally threaded ring nut 40 surrounding valve body 37 and in threaded engagement with the internally threaded end 26 of flange 25 presses against flange 38forcing the flangeagainst ring 27 so that wall 14 of container 13 is pressed into sealing contact with the flared end 24 of rigid container 10 by wall 28 of ring 27, nut 40 also thus providing a means for rigidly connecting valve body 37 to rigid container 10.

Valve body 37 is provided with outlets 41 to which tubes 42 connected to a fire extinguishing system (not shown) are attached and slidably contains a valve disc 43'attached to the end of a valve stem 44 extending through valve body 37 and out through an opening 45 in the end 46 of the valve body. The face 47 of valve disc 43 engages end 35 of wall 31 in sealing contact, a tight seal being had between the surfaces by, means of a resilient O ring 48 positioned in coinciding grooves 49 in end 35 and face 7 47. End 46 of valve body 37 is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder 50 on which-a resilient pad 51 is secured for a purpose to be explained. Opening Patented Sept. 3, 1957 Closed end 11 of container 10 is provided with 45 in end 46 is provided with an annular washer 52 surrounding valve stem 44 passing therethrough to seal the opening against passage of fluid.

The face 47 of valve disc 43 is held in sealing contact with end 35 of wall 31 to close opening 32 by a bolt 53 extending across the end 54 of valve stern 44 and in contact therewith, bolt 53 being provided with a slot 55 extending therethrough of ,suflicient size to pass stem 44. The lower wall 55' of slot 55 is sloped downwardly as shown to permit end 54 of stem 44 to pass through slot 55 rapidly and easily when bolt 53 is moved. The lower end 56 of bolt 53 is slidably contained within a recess 57in a projecting portion 58 of valve body 37. Bolt end 56 is provided with an opening 59 in which a helical compression spring 60 is positioned with its lower end 61 projecting out against the lower end 62 of opening 59 to urge bolt 53 upwardly into the position shown in the drawing so that end 54 of stem 44 engages bolt 53 directly beneath slot 55. The upper end 63 of bolt 53 is slidably contained in the lower end 64 of an opening 65 extending through a projecting portion 66 of valve body 37. A generally cylindrical cartridge 67 comprising a receptacle 68 which fits smoothly Within opening 65 and which is filled with an explosive powder 69 is placed in opening 65 over end 63 of bolt 53. The lower end 70 of receptacle 68 is composed of a thin easily ruptured material such as rubber and is positioned directly on end 63 of bolt 53. Receptacle 68 is provided with a rigid metallic cap 71 having a metallic electrode 72 attached thereto which extends downwardly into powder 69. Cap 71 is provided with a central opening 73 extending therethrough which contains an electrical insulator 74 through which an electrode 75 passes. Electrode 75 extends downwardly into powder 69 and sufliciently near to electrode 72 to establish a spark gap therebetween. The upper end of electrode 75 terminates in a contact button of a known type (not shown) which is imbedded in the upper surface of insulator 74. A metallic cartridge retainer 76 is threadedly secured in opening 65 over cartridge 67 and in contact with cap 71. Retainer 76 is provided with a core 77 of electrical insulating material through which an electrical connector 78 passes the lower end of the connector being in contact with electrode 75 and the upper end thereof being connected to a wire 79 which in turn is connected through a switch 80 to a source of electrical current such as a battery 81, switch 80 being preferably located within easy reach of the airplane pilot.

To fill the reservoir with liquid and pressurized gas, inner flexible container 13 is filled with a fire extinguishing liquid such as water, carbon tetrachloride or the like. This may be done by moving bolt 53 downwardly to align slot 55 therein with end 54 of stem 44 to permit valve stem 44 to pass therethrough and valve disc 43 to be moved away from opening 32. The liquid is injected into valve body 37 through one of outlets 41 and allowed to flow through opening 32 into container 13. When container 13 has been completely filled with liquid, valve disc 43 is moved back over opening 32 and stem 44 withdrawn from slot 55 permitting bolt 53 to move upwardly and engage end 54 of stem 44 to thereby hold valve disc 43 over opening 32. Container 13 may also be filled by an alternate method in which valve body 37 is disconnected from rigid container by removal of nut 40. Container 13 is then filled through opening 32 and valve body 37 re-connected to container 10. With container 13 filled with liquid and face 47 of valve disc 43 in sealing contact with O ring 48 thus closing opening 32, plug 23 is removed from opening 21 in valve 19 and a source of very highly pressurized gas (not shown) is connected thereto. The gas, which is preferably carbon dioxide under a pressure of from 100 p. s. i. to 600 p. s. i., is directed through valve 19 into area between ends 11 and 16 of containers 10 and 13 respectively. Plug 23 is then replaced to prevent any possible leakage of gas through valve 19 and the device is then ready for use.

To discharge the liquid and gas from containers 13 and 10 through tubes 42, the pilot closes switch 79 whereby electrical current from battery passes through wire 78 to connector 77 and electrode 75. The current flows down electrode 75 and arcs across from the lower end thereof to electrode 72 attached to cap 71, the spark thus produced igniting powder 69. The rapid burning or explosion of powder 69 in cartridge 67 within the confined area of opening 65 creates a pressure which ruptures bottom 70 of receptacle 68 and presses against the upper end 63 of bolt 53 rapidly moving the bolt downwardly compressing spring 60 and bringing slot 55 into alignment with end 54 of valve stem 44.

The pressurized gas contained in area 20 presses against end 16 of flexible container 13 causing the liquid contained therein to be pressed against face 47 of valve disc 43 with an equal amount of pressure. Thus when bolt 53 moves downwardly and slot 55 comes into alignment with end 54 of stem 44, valve disc 43 is thrust away from opening 32 toward shoulder Si! by the pressure of the liquid to the position indicated in phantom lines 43 and valve stem 44 passes through slot 55 to the position indicated in phantom lines 54'. Valve disc 43 is thrust toward shoulder 50 with considerable force and resilient pad 51 positioned on shoulder 50 is for the purpose of preventing possible damage to disc 43 through forcible contact with shoulder 50. The position to which disc 43 is moved as indicated at 43 provides for the fluid entering valve body 37 through opening 32 with an unobstructed passage therethrough to outlets 41 and tubes 42.

The pressurized gas in area 20 pressing against end 16 of container 13 thereby forcing the liquid out of container 13 as above described, causes container 13 to collapse as the liquidleaves it. Rings 18 supporting wall 14 are moved toward the open end 12 of container 10 and end 16 is forced toward opening 32 to a position indicated in phantom lines 16. End 16 in moving toward opening 32 is pressed against the end of punch 34 with such force that the punch penetrates therethrough thus puncturing container 13 and releasing the pressurized gas from within area 20. The pressurized gas passes through container 13, opening 32 and out through outlets 41 and through tubes 42 to supply the fire extinguishing system with a large volume of fire extinguishing gas in addition to the liquid previously released thereinto.

The above described action takes place very rapidly so that the pressurized fluid in the reservoir is expelled therefrom into the fire extinguishing system almost instanty upon closing switch 79. Thus with the reservoir positioned in the fire extinguishing system near the area into which the fluid is to be discharged, the time lapse between the closing of switch 79 and the arrival of'the fluid in the desired area is extremely short.

The sturdy and compact construction of the unit in addition to the positive and fastacting valve actuating mechanism makes the unit particularly adaptable for use in fire prevention and fire extinguishing systems on all types of aircraft.

This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment of the invention is therefore to be considered as in all-respects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the'appended claims, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. 7 H

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pressurized fluid reservoir comprising: a generally cylindrical rigid metal container having a closed end-and an open end; a flexible container adapted to contain a liquid disposed within said rigid container in sliding contact with the inner cylindrical surfaces thereof, said flexible container having an open end coinciding with the open end of said rigid container and a closed end spaced away from the closed end of said container; a sealing member disposed within the open ends of said containers and arranged to press the sides of said flexible container into sealing contact with the inner surface of said rigid container adjacent the open ends thereof, said sealing member having an inwardly sloping wall terminating in a valve seat of large area concentric with the axis of said cylindrical rigid container; a valve secured in sealing contact with said valve seat; means for quickly releasing said valve; and means for admitting fluid under pressure into the closed end of said rigid container, said fluid having suflicient pressure so that upon releasing said valve the closed end of said flexible container is moved toward said valve seat by the pressurized fluid to collapse said flexible container thereby expelling all of the liquid therefrom.

2. A pressurized fluid reservoir comprising: a generally cylindrical rigid metal container having a closed end and an open end; a flexible container adapted to contain a liquid disposed within said rigid container, said flexible container having an open end coinciding with the open end of said rigid container and a closed end spaced away from the closed end of said rigid container; means for holding said flexible container in sliding contact with the inner cylindrical surfaces of said rigid container; a sealing member disposed within the open ends of said containers and arranged to press the sides of said flexible container into sealing contact with the inner surfaces of said rigid container adjacent the open endsthereof, said sealing member having an inwardly sloping wall terminating in a valve seat of large area concentric with the axis of said rigid cylindrical container; a valve secured in sealing contact with said valve seat; means for quickly releasing said valve; means for admitting fluid under pressure into the closed end of said rigid container, said fluid having sufiicient pressure so that upon releasing said valve the closed end of said flexible container is moved toward said valve seat to expel all of the liquid from the container; and means attached to said sealing member arranged to pierce said flexible container after the liquid is expelled therefrom to release the pressurized fluid from within said rigid container.

3. A pressurized fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 2, in which said means for holding said flexible container in sliding contact with the inner cylindrical surface of said rig-id container comprises a plurality spaced apart rings secured to the inner surface of said flexible container and arranged to press said flexible container outwardly against the inner cylindrical surface of said rigid container.

4. A pressurized fluid reservoir comprising: a generally cylindrical rigid metal container having a closed end and an outwardly flared open end; a flexible container adapted to contain a liquid disposed within said rigid container, said flexible container having an open end coinciding with the open end of said rigid container and a closed end spaced away from the closed end of said rigid container; a sealing member disposed within the open ends of said container, said sealing member having an angular portion corresponding to the flared end of said rigid container and adapted to press the sides of said flexible container adjacent the open end thereof in sealing contact against the flared end of said rigid container, said sealing member having an inwardly sloping wall terminating in a valve seat of large area concentric with the axis of said rigid container; piercing means attached to the wall of said sealing member and extending inwardly into said flexible container; a valve secured in sealing contact with said valve seat; means for quickly releasing said valve; means adapted to admit fluid under pressure into the closed end of said rigid container, said pressurized fluid pressing against the closed end of said flexible container with suflicient pressure so that upon release of said valve the closed end of said flexible container is moved toward said piercing means to eject the fluid therefrom and cause said closed end to be pressed against said piercing means with suflicient force to pierce said end and thereby release the pressurized fluid from Within said rigid container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,996,792 Bystricky Apr. 9, 1935 2,307,784 Mapes Jan. 12, 1943 2,531,366 Smith Nov. 21, 1950 2,557,957 Ferguson June 26, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 316,565 Germany of 1919 

